Antiochus V Eupator

Antiochus V Eupator
Antiochus V Eupator
	Silver tetradrachm of Antiochos V Eupator, minted in Antioch, featuring a portrait of Antiochos on the obverse. SC 1575.11
Basileus of the Seleucid Empire
Reign	November/December 164 – 161 BC
Predecessor	Antiochus IV Epiphanes
Successor	Demetrius I Soter
Regent	General Lysias
Born	c. 172 BC
Died	161 BC (aged 10 or 11)
Dynasty	Seleucid
Father	Antiochus IV Epiphanes
Mother	Laodice IV

Antiochus V Eupator (Ancient Greek: Αντίοχος Ε' Ευπάτωρ), whose epithet means "of a good father" (c. 172 BC – 161 BC)^[1] was a ruler of the Seleucid Empire who reigned from late 164 to 161 BC (based on dates from 1 Maccabees 6:16 and 7:1).^[2]

He was appointed as king by the Romans^[3] with his protector Lysias as regent.^[4]

Biography

Early life and succession

Antiochus V was only nine years old when he succeeded to the kingship, following the death in Persia of his father Antiochus IV Epiphanes and his mother Laodice IV. The general Lysias, who had been left in charge of Syria by Epiphanes, served as regent for the child, although he was challenged by other generals. The Roman Senate still kept Demetrius, son of Seleucus IV and the rightful heir to the throne, as a hostage, refusing to release him because they considered it better to have Syria nominally ruled by a boy and his regent than the 22-year-old Demetrius.^[3]

Reign

At the outset of the reign of Antiochus V, there was an attempt by the Syrians to quell the Maccabean Revolt in Judea, but this ended in a weak compromise. After a military victory in the Battle of Beth-Zecharia and the killing of Eleazar Avaran, a brother of Judas Maccabeus, Lysias was informed that Philip (a confidant of Antiochus IV Epiphanes, who had accompanied this previous king to conquer Mesopotamia and had been entrusted prior to the death of the king with the upbringing of Antiochus V) was returning to the capital with the other half of the Seleucid army. Lysias felt threatened and advised Antiochus V to offer peace to the Jews. The Jews accepted; however, in order to ensure they would not rise against them again soon, the Syrian king and regent broke their promise and tore down the walls of Jerusalem before leaving. Upon reaching their own kingdom, Lysias and Antiochus V found Philip in control of the capital Antioch, but they defeated him and retook the city and kingdom.^[5]

Downfall and death

When the Roman Senate heard that the Syrian kingdom kept more warships and elephants than allowed by the Treaty of Apamea made in 188 BC, they sent a Roman embassy to travel along the cities of Syria and attempted to cripple Seleucid military power by sinking the Syrians' warships and hamstringing their elephants. Lysias dared do nothing to oppose the Romans, but his subservience so enraged his Syrian subjects that the Roman envoy Gnaeus Octavius was assassinated in Laodicea in 162 BC.^[3]

At this juncture Demetrius escaped from Rome and was received in Syria as the true king. Antiochus V Eupator was soon put to death together with his protector Lysias.

References

^ "Antiochus V Eupator". Livius.org.
^ Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, Inc., footnotes b and c at 1 Maccabees 6 in the New American Bible (Revised Edition), accessed 18 December 2020
^ ^a ^b ^c Appian Roman History, Syrian Wars 8.46.
^ 1 Maccabees 6:17
^ 1 Maccabees 6:55-63.

External links

Antiochus V Eupator entry in historical sourcebook by Mahlon H. Smith

Regnal titles
Antiochus V Eupator Seleucid dynasty Born: 172 BC Died: 161 BC
Preceded by Antiochus IV Epiphanes	Seleucid King (King of Syria) 163–161 BC	Succeeded by Demetrius I Soter

[1] "Antiochus V Eupator". Livius.org.

[2] Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, Inc., footnotes b and c at 1 Maccabees 6 in the New American Bible (Revised Edition), accessed 18 December 2020

[auto-3] Appian Roman History, Syrian Wars 8.46.

[4] 1 Maccabees 6:17

[5] 1 Maccabees 6:55-63.

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]

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Monarchs of Cyrene	Magas Berenice II Demetrius the Fair Ptolemy VIII Physcon Ptolemy Apion Cleopatra Selene II
Seleucids	Seleucus I Nicator Antiochus I Soter Antiochus II Theos Seleucus II Callinicus Seleucus III Ceraunus Antiochus III the Great Seleucus IV Philopator Antiochus IV Epiphanes Antiochus V Eupator Demetrius I Soter Alexander I Balas Demetrius II Nicator Antiochus VI Dionysus Diodotus Tryphon Antiochus VII Sidetes Alexander II Zabinas Cleopatra Thea Seleucus V Philometor Antiochus VIII Grypus Antiochus IX Cyzicenus Seleucus VI Epiphanes Antiochus X Eusebes Antiochus XI Epiphanes Demetrius III Eucaerus Philip I Philadelphus Antiochus XII Dionysus Cleopatra Selene I Antiochus XIII Asiaticus Philip II Philoromaeus
Lysimachids	Lysimachus Ptolemy Epigonos
Attalids	Philetaerus Eumenes I Attalus I Eumenes II Attalus II Attalus III Eumenes III
Greco-Bactrians	Diodotus I Diodotus II Euthydemus I Demetrius I Euthydemus II Antimachus I Pantaleon Agathocles Demetrius II Eucratides I Plato Eucratides II Heliocles I
Indo-Greeks	Demetrius I Antimachus I Pantaleon Agathocles Apollodotus I Demetrius II Antimachus II Menander I Zoilos I Agathokleia Lysias Strato I Antialcidas Heliokles II Polyxenos Demetrius III Philoxenus Diomedes Amyntas Epander Theophilos Peukolaos Thraso Nicias Menander II Artemidoros Hermaeus Archebius Telephos Apollodotus II Hippostratos Dionysios Zoilos II Apollophanes Strato II Strato III
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Monarchs of Pontus	Mithridates I Ctistes Ariobarzanes Mithridates II Mithridates III Pharnaces I Mithridates IV Philopator Philadephos with Laodice Mithridates V Euergetes Mithridates VI Eupator Pharnaces II Darius Arsaces Polemon I Pythodorida Polemon II
Monarchs of Commagene	Ptolemaeus Sames II Mithridates I Antiochus I Mithridates II Antiochus II Mithridates III Antiochus III Antiochus IV
Monarchs of Cappadocia	Ariarathes I Ariarathes II Ariamnes II Ariarathes III Ariarathes IV Ariarathes V Orophernes Ariarathes VI Ariarathes VII Ariarathes VIII Ariarathes IX Ariobarzanes I Ariobarzanes II Ariobarzanes III Ariarathes X Archelaus
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